Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

22oz bottle. Nearly black in appearance with a light tan head of good thickness and consistency; bordering on pillowy. The aroma has a good deal of tangerine and raspberry mixed with burnt toast and charred oak. The longer the beer warms, the more the fruit pops out actually, with a striking vanilla kick coming out, and an almost sour patch kid tartness. They really seem to have crammed a lot into the aromatics, but get it to pretty reasonably approximate dark chocolate with fruit in it. The flavor brings the same qualities of burnt malt, oaky tannic bitterness, boozy vanilla extract,and citrus sweetness together. They aren’t really working in harmony, and not as well as in the aroma. There just seems to be a little too much going on right now, but I can see that changing with some age. The mouthfeel is a little hot and astringent, with the alcohol and oak ganging up on your tongue. On the one hand, this is the third year in a row that I have thought that the Vertical epic release was a little weak and unrefined in general, but at least this one tastes like three years in the cellar might actually help it out.

A little tiny bit of banana in the aroma. Surprisingly dark-stout-like. Whos. This is smoky, almost like lox. Excellent beer. Very chewy, smoky peaty and amazing.

2009 Bottle, No shit...pours a tin dk brown with a small lt brown head...aroma is mostly chocolate malt, some grain and some light roast as well...flavour is similar, cocoa, roast the slightest bit of citrus, nicely bitter cocoa and burnt wood on the end...absolutely nothing like a Belgian Strong, but tasty and a shit ton better then the last VE...

Tap at the Iron Abbey. Pours out dark brown with a big fluffy tan head. Aroma is of chocolate, roasted malts, dark fruits, yeast and some alcohol. Taste is complex and has a real lot going on. Chocolate is up front with some nice earthy notes, roast, vanilla, a touch of oak, dark dried fruits, mostly plum and fig, some fruity yeast notes sneak their way in there among the flavors also. Slightly bitter finish with a little bite of alcohol. I was impressed by this one right now, will be interesting to see how it stands up to time.

pours black with a thin khaki head, above average carbonation, and some lacing. smell is of dark chocolate, fruit, roasted nuts, and a touch of vanilla. taste is of dark fruit, sour malt, hops, and chocolate, end is dry and nicely bitter.

Bomber - pours clear dark brown with foamy tan head; aromas of chocolate, vanilla, creamy milk and plenty of sweet roast; maybe some juniper or nutmeg spice; quick sweet with a lactic taste to it; thin, dry and a sharp bitterness at first sip; spice and dark fruit, but no orange; kind of all over the place and has a consistent flavor that reminds me of the Alaskan Baltic porter, but not nearly as good

22 oz bottle: Very dark brown, almost black body w/ a lasting tan medium sized head. Aromas of chocolate, spicy yeast, caramelized sugar, wood, and other dark fruits. Hints of vanilla. Roasty (coffee) aroma comes out much more, early before it warms. Touches of alcohol. Flavor is much the same, however, the balance both when chilled and as it warms, is to bitter in the finish. Not harsh, but bitter. Aftertaste is roasty, chocolate, lingering bitterness, resiny, with light vanilla. Wood tannin may be adding to the bitterness and dryness. The finish is dry into the aftertaste. Yeasty character is muted by the chocolate and other flavors as it warms, but it’s there. Medium CO2, dry, almost astringent m/f from hop bittering, dark grains, and wood tannins; Well hidden alcohol in the mouth, and fuller medium body. I’m still not a fan of Belgian style yeast with a dominant dark grain combination. While I’m not disappointed with this beer, it’s not been one of my favorites in the series due to that fact. I’d like to see how it ages!

22 oz. bottle. Pours a very deep mahogany with a thick mocha head. A rich aroma of roasted nuts, chocolate maltiness, peanut butter cups, some vanilla beans, and a touch of citrus. Full-bodied. The flavor starts off with some sweet caramel and milk chocolate. Unique toasty oak qualities and some vanilla follow. Some tangerines and rinds at the end. A bitter and drying finish that is full of coffee and a touch of smoke. A very unique beer. I’d love to revisit this one in a couple years to see how it’s aged.